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Objective-Balance disorders increase with aging and raise the risk of accidental falls in the elderly. It has been suggested that the practice of physical and sporting activities (PSA) eYciently counteracts these age related disorders, reducing the risk of falling significantly. Methods-This study, principally based on a period during which the subjects were engaged in PSA, included 65 healthy subjects, aged over 60, who were living at home. Three series of posturographic tests (static, dynamic with a single and fast upward tilt, and dynamic with slow sinusoidal oscillations) analysing the centre of foot pressure displacements or electromyographic responses were conducted to determine the eVects of PSA practice on balance control. Results-The major variables of postural control were best in subjects who had always practised PSA (AA group). Those who did not take part in PSA at all (II group) had the worst postural performances, whatever the test. Subjects having lately begun PSA practice (IA group) had good postural performances, close to those of the AA group, whereas the subjects who had stopped the practice of PSA at an early age (AI group) did not perform as well. Overall, the postural control in the group studied decreased in the order AA>IA>AI>II. Conclusions-The period during which PSA are practised seems to be of major importance, having a positive bearing on postural control. It seems that recent periods of practice have greater beneficial eVects on the subject's postural stability than PSA practice only at an early age. These data are compatible with the fact that PSA are extremely useful for elderly people even if it has not been a lifelong habit. (Br J Sports Med 1999;33:121-126)

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Although high-level sports develop specific physiological and sensorimotor abilities involved in balance control, they also increase the risk of injuries. The influence on postural control of lower limb trauma induced by judo practice was examined in healthy and previously injured judoists (PIJ). During static and dynamic tests, performed with or without vision, PIJ achieved the best performances in maintaining proper balance, except for those with the most severe antecedents of trauma. The severity of the pathology appeared to be the most important parameter prejudicial to balance control while the location, frequency and diversity of trauma had only a modest impact. This shows that PIJ develop excellent sensory and cognitive adaptation abilities to constraints involving new patterns of compensation and of body scheme.

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